Flies solve dowry death mystery: A case report.

Unnatural deaths of married women amongst the total female deaths have shown an increasing trend in Indian society during the recent years. These unnatural deaths may be suicidal, homicidal or accidental but suicidal deaths are most common. In India, dowry is an persistent evil, even among educated societies, there is no escape from the brutality of in- laws met and some of these oppressed young women choose to commit suicide, either by burning, poisoning or by some other means. The burden of finding the cause of death lies on the shoulders of forensic experts. In this peculiar case, history and findings were confusing and inconclusive. Then as the ray of hope, flies of autopsy room came to teach us importance of patient observation in Forensic Medicine.

Profile of burns cases brought for post- mortem examination at mortuary of Sir T. Hospital, Bhavnagar.

Introduction: To provide better facilities medically as well medico-legally it is very important and urgent to know about the profile of cases of burns especially in Bhavnagar region. Material Method: The present study was conducted in department of forensic medicine Govt. Medical College, Bhavnagar during the period from July, 2009 to June, 2010with a view to study the profile of burn cases brought for the post mortem examination. All the data related to age, sex, marital status, type and manner of burns with area involved, and survival time were recorded with detailed autopsy examination and subsequently analyzed statistically. Results: Epidemiological profile and other important parameters found during present study is nearly similar to other Indian studies. From the present study of epidemiological profile certain etiologies are elicited and some suggestions are given.

Original research paper an autopsy study of socio-etiological aspects in dowry death cases.

Violence affects lives of millions of woman worldwide, in all societies, one of the most heinous and shocking forms among them is DOWRY DEATH, is one among the various reasons for suicidal (i.e. abetted suicide) and homicidal deaths of women in India, other being marital infidelity, sexual jealousy etc. This study done at Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Hospital, Bangalore South, was conducted during the period July 2006 to January 2008, aims and objectives were to know the magnitude, socio etiologic profile and methods used for committing suicide/homicide, and various other factors affecting the alarming rise in incidence of dowry death and also to lend valuable suggestion to concerned authorities to prevent this heinous social evil of our society. Most of the victims were aged between 18 to 25 years of age, maximum of the victims died within three years of married life, most commonly between 1 to 2 years of married life. Hanging is the most common method used for dowry deaths.

Original research paper study of unnatural deaths in females a medicolegal study at rural medical college, Loni.

The present study was undertaken in the Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Rural Medical College, Loni, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. Aims and objectives to study the incidences of unnatural deaths in females with special reference to “DOWRY DEATHS” in which cases medico legal autopsies was conducted. Data of total 310 cases were collected for this study purpose from police panchnama, post mortem reports and through interrogation of the parents, relatives, friends, neighbors accompanying dead body. Majority of the female deaths were in the age group 26 to 30 years (24.56%) followed by age group 21 to 25 years (21.93%). In majority of the victims burns (50%) was the common cause of death followed by poisoning (17.1%) and vehicular accidents (16.45%). Majority of the married female victims (44.19%) died within seven years of marriage.

The fire is both “a blessing & scourge to the mankind”.

Man has always needed fire either to prepare his food to satisfy his hunger or to induce warmth during winters. Simultaneously he is constantly exposed to the hazards of burns, which begins right from the day one of his life, when the maternity nurse gives him the first hot water bath. That is why it is said, “The fire has been both a blessing and scourge to the mankind”. The present study was conducted in department of forensic medicine PDU Medical College, Rajkot during the period from Nov. 2004 to Oct. 2005 with a view to study the profile of burn cases brought for the post mortem examination. All the data related to age, sex, marital status, type and manner of burns with area involved, and survival time were recorded with detailed autopsy examination and subsequently analyzed statistically. We reached at a conclusion that majority of the victims were married females of younger age group between 20-40 years, with an extensive accidental flame burns.

Unnatural deaths in northern India a profile.

A ten-year retrospective study was carried out on the cases of unnatural deaths subjected to medicolegal autopsies from 1994 to 2003. The main objectives of the study were: a) To ascertain the various aspects of unnatural deaths, b) To analyze the probable reasons for the same & c) To find remedial measures to bring down the incidence. The incidence of unnatural deaths was found to be persistently increasing. Maximum number of such deaths 1342 (47%) belonged to the age group of 21 - 30 years. Male: female ratio was 2.2: 1. Rural population was more prone to poisoning whereas the urban became victim of road-traffic accidents. Males preferred poisoning and hanging whereas females preferred self-immolation (burns) to end their awn lives. Suggestions relating to road safety, decreasing the stress of the modem mechanical life-style, educating the public in general and regarding the availability, use and storage of poisonous substances in particular have been put forward, while highlighting the social evil of dowry system prevailing in India.